"US Virgin Islands" a Charlotte Amalie Travel Page by sbenedec

I lived in St. Thomas in the USVI from September 1984 through August 1989. While there I worked as a professional photographer, and also worked at a tour operator/ground handler. Living on an island can be a strain, but there are upsides, like going to the beach nearly every weekend if you so desire. I did yearn for seasons though, after a few years of constant sunshine. And living through tropical storms and hurricanes is no picnic. You just get used to stocking up on food and supplies, always having at least two weeks worth of anything important in the house. Water conservation becomes a way of life, and even now, after living back in the states for nearly 15 years, I still take the fastest showers of anyone I know!

For anyone planning an escape to paradise, the only advice I would offer is that living there is quite different from visiting there. Look before you leap. I had visited the Virgin Islands a few times before making the decision to move. I found out that living on an island can be fun, but is replete with difficulties. Getting a phone installed, traffic, carefree attitudes, the list is endless. Just getting a drivers license was a day-long, expensive adventure.